Economics
Internships
Bharat Chamber of Commerce
A platform to promote fair trade practices, expand economic and commercial activities, and foster business growth in Eastern India
Research Intern
Intrigued by the recent geopolitical developments, I was keen to learn how the disruption of bilateral treaties impacts metrics like GDP. To understand in more detail the relation between FDI and various indicators by analyzing a single country, I was given the responsibility of preparing a report on the impact of FDI inflow on Bangladesh’s economic trajectory.
I also undertook an independent exploration of factors attracting Foreign Direct Investment and how this influences a country’s economic trajectory. Through this project, I learnt not only how to extrapolate information from research effectively but also how to apply various statistical tools such as Pearson’s product-moment correlation and Fisher’s z-transformation test.
West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation
Research Intern
Applying the learnings from Cornell’s macroeconomics course enhanced my understanding of the policy initiatives undertaken. As an intern with this organization, I generated a report on the West Bengal government’s request for a loan from the Asian Development Bank to finance 4 industrial corridors. The report included a loan disbursement summary and a cost-benefit analysis in terms of the economic development in the state.
Enrichment Programs
Innovapolis, Governance, Public Policy, and Leadership Program
Participant
Introduced to macroeconomic policies in class, I realized how domestic and political considerations of the government shape the economic functioning of a country. Keen to delve deeper, I was selected for UNGCNI’s Governance, Public Policy, and Leadership Program. Learning about the policy drafting process, stakeholders, and tools to maximize impact enabled me to analyze how variance in training initiatives led to differences in unemployment rates between the two Indian states of Gujarat and Kerala. Addressing the feud between Alberta and British Columbia regarding the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project, I also drafted a policy brief advocating for the continuation of the project while suggesting measures to minimize negative externalities.
Research Paper
Influence of Political Stability, Economic Development, and Institutional Efficiency on FDI Patterns in MEDCs and LEDCs
Independent Research
Working on a research project under the mentorship of Mr Roy at the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, I conducted a comparative analysis of FDI inflow patterns, correlations, and volatility across MEDCs and LEDCs. Using World Bank data spanning ten years, I applied statistical methods such as Two-Sample T-tests, Pearson’s Correlation, Fisher’s Z-transformation, and F-tests to test key hypotheses. The study identified market size, infrastructure, and regulatory stability as major determinants of FDI trends. I concluded that MEDCs attract higher and more effective FDI inflows than LEDCs, reflected in stronger correlations with GDP growth. However, FDI volatility is greater in MEDCs, likely due to sectoral dynamics and investment duration. These findings suggest that while development enhances FDI effectiveness, it also introduces higher exposure to market fluctuations.
Competitions
John Locke Economics Essay Competition
What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit? Is such behaviour better or worse, on balance, than the behaviour we should expect if all enterprises were owned by charities or governments?
Awarded Commendation
I wrote an argumentative essay on the merits of the kind of behaviors that are undertaken in the hope of generating profit. I researched the various behaviours in profit-seeking firms and compared them to those of public enterprises, finding that charities or government-owned firms engender better behaviour than the former. However, if all firms were owned in such a manner, the lack of funds from profit-driven firms would render the model unsustainable on its own, undermining the advantages of the behaviour. Writing this essay, I learned how to weigh competing values and sharpened my ability to formulate and present arguments. This experience not only strengthened my academic skills but deepened my passion for economics as a tool for understanding human behaviour.
Immerse Essay Competition
Merit Award Recipient
I conducted an in-depth analysis of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and CBDCs, examining their volatility, blockchain advantages, adoption trends during the pandemic, and fiscal implications for traditional finance. My research highlighted regulatory risks, the link between crypto taxation and budget revenues, and the potential for policy reinvestment. Concluding, I found that digital currencies are transforming money management, investment strategies, and financial risk assessment, presenting both significant opportunities and complex challenges for the global economy.